An Ashe County man pleaded guilty in federal court today to defrauding consumers of nearly $5 million by misbranding erectile dysfunction drugs and selling them as all natural herbal supplements, according to Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of
North Carolina. She and Agents of the Food and Drug Administration, Inspectors of the Charlotte Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service makde todays announcement. Kamran Rezapour, 52, of Creston, N.C. pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler to one count of wire fraud and two counts of drug misbranding. At todays plea hearing, Rezapour admitted that from 2009 through April 2013, he defrauded consumers of nearly $5 million, by fraudulently and falsely claiming that his erectile dysfunction products were 100 % safe and natural. Rezapour admitted that his products, in fact, contained ingredients similar to prescription drugs such as Viagra, which require FDA approval to market and distribute. According to court documents, Rezapour was the owner and operator of Nutrition for Health, Inc. and Mojo Risen, LLC. Through these companies, Rezapour sold dietary supplements, male enhancement drugs and erectile dysfunction drugs, including Mojo Risen, Mojo Sensation and VajiVedic. According to court records, Rezapour and his Chinese supplier evaded detection of the pharmaceutical and prescription compounds by U.S. Customs authorities and the FDA by falsely labeling the packages as paint products, care products and gifts. At sentencing, Rezapour faces a maximum prison term of 20 years and a $250,000 fine for the wire fraud charge and a maximum prison term of three years and a $250,000 fine for each count of misbranding drugs.